dpa
Berlin
Alfa Romeo on Tuesday confirmed that Zhou Guanyu will stay with the Formula One team for the 2023 season alongside Valtteri Bottas.
The 23-year-old made history as the first Chinese driver to compete in F1 with his debut this year at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Italian team said they have been impressed by his "levels of maturity and racecraft that belie his young age, contributing to the development of the team as it makes its way to what is currently P6 in the constructors’ championship.
"I am looking forward to continuing working with Zhou,” team principal Frédéric Vasseur said.
The strong relationship with team-mate Bottas played a role in Alfa Romeo’s decision to give Zhou the chance to drive for a second season.
"It’s been an absolutely crazy year but I’m proud of everything we have achieved as a team so far! Let’s keep working to reach more milestones together,” Zhou said on Twitter.
Zhou is ranked 17th in the 2022 with six points from three finishes in the points with six races left in the season.
He will now have the chance to race his home Chinese Grand Prix as it returns to the 2023 calendar following a three-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.